MemberHi bee’s,
So yesterday was the day hubby and I decided to stop our method of BC & start planning TTC.
I went to the pharmacy and got a womans vitamin & prenatal vitamins. I stopped my caffine intake & uped my water intake.
Just looking for any tips you guys have?
We won’t start trying till May or June.
MemberYou could start learning about your cycle. Log your symptoms, periods etc into an app like Glow so maybe you can figure out what time of the month you ovulate.
MemberI downloaded fertility friend on my phone. It’s been really helpful tracking periods, CM and stuff like that.
MemberIf you haven’t had your annual exam, I would schedule it and ask any pre-conception questions to your o/b. I did this and they had be come back for a trans-vaginal ultrasound due to my spotting before my AF. Everything was normal but I am so glad I did that 3 months before we wanted to start TTC.
MemberYour prenatal vitamin has everything you need in it, so you probably don’t need to take both the women’s multi and the prenatal.
I would relax. Enjoy this time! And get plenty of good exercise, rest, and food. Don’t stress or worry about this too much.
If you aren’t planning on TTC until May or June, are you using another form of contraception?
MemberYes we are using condoms for the one month, as I was told you need to have at least one normal cycle before trying to become pregnant. Then afterwards we won’t use anything as we don’t care for the timing we are ready.
Memberrailroaderwifeyxo : I think it depends on how “Type-A” you are… I am a bit of a control freak and I have a small window in which I want to get pregnant because of an unrealated medical issue. For me I went to my Dr and did an annual check up/PAP, I also got caught up on my vaccines and did some bloodwork because just 3 months prior I had wonky thyroid levels. Then I read Taking Charge of your Fertility and started Temping.
None of that is really needed, so if you are ok going with the flow I’d say you’re good!
MemberCongrats! I recommend reading up on TTC, but don’t stress yourself out too much. You don’t need OPKs and temping or anything, they just help down the road if you’re finding it difficult to become pregnant.
If you’re actively trying, then an app to track your cycles is useful, I would use Ovia or Fertility Friend or something like that. CM/cervix tracking doesn’t work for me so don’t get stressed if you find that they don’t work for you either.
And don’t get discouraged, it’s true that even if you do everything right you still only have a ~15-20% chance of getting pregnant.
Memberrailroaderwifeyxo : Sounds good! Just a tip… we got pregnant within two weeks of coming off BCP without having a normal cycle. My last period was the one I had right after finishing up my pill packet. No issues with it though and pregnancy is going great so far! But I never thought that it would shake out like that… so I guess we are a bit of a cautionary tale that it can happen regardless!
Membercourtneysokal : Wow!
I was also on medication for a medical condition & was told 1-2 months for it to clear out of my system. I stopped taking it halfway through last month.
So I’m excited. But want to make sure no accidents happen before the 2 month time frame!
MemberAllieBee12 : I am VERY A-type lol…
I need a solid plan for everything, hence why I think I am WAY over thinking it.
MemberI’d do a preconception appointment with your obgyn. Mine strongly urged 4 months of prenatals before TTC. obviously lots of people don’t do prenatals before getting pregnant and still go on to have healthy babies & pregnancies, but this is what my OBGYN recommended. I also did a blood test and found my vit D levels were low, so I started taking supplements. Depending on your prenatal, you might already be getting enough vit D but maybe not. My prenatals have 400 IU vit D but my obgyn said to take 2000 IU/day.
I also called my health insurance and ran through what specifically was covered and what wasn’t.
MemberI saw my doctor back in Feb and told him my plans. He recommended starting pre-natals as soon as I stopped BC. By the time we try TTC it will be 2-3 months in.
I had my exam not to long ago, and we discussed in detail my plans.
Thanks!
MemberWe were going to start ttc last month but are now pushing forward our date due to things we want to do before having a baby. Anyhow I have started preparing my body anyway. I’ve had blood tests to make sure everything is fine, and also for Vitamin D levels I have bought megafood prenatals but I haven’t started taking them (mainly because it’s like 75$ for a month and I don’t wanna spare that money until I’m certain of wanting to start the ttc. Instead I’ve been taking megafood’s blood builder to up my iron levels, it also contains 400mcg of folate. I also take 1000iuof vitamin D. I drink far less, drink slightly less coffee, started yoga again, eat a cleaner diet.
I also have been reading taking charge of your fertility which has been fascinating and I’m tracking my cycle& cervical fluid.
MemberIt really depends on your age.
If you’re early 30s or under, I wouldn’t bother with ovulation kits or tracking your CM (bodily secretions). I honestly think that just stresses you out and fixates you on TTC too much. I would just TTC a few times mid-cycle and you should catch it!
If you’re over 35, you might need to be more aware and read up more.
I tried straight off the pill and I was 41. It took us 4 months. Over half-way through pregnancy now with our first baby! As I’m older I read a lot into it and took supplements like Q10 which is supposed to be good for egg supply. If I had been younger, believe me I would not have got so obsessed. It was not enjoyabel and I don’t think it helped! I got pregnant at a time when I was fixated on a totally unrelated health worry and I am absolutely convinced that it was not thinking about TTC that made it happen! OPKs did not work for me and just upset me and cost a lot- totally pointless. And I conceived without ANY of the egg white mucous you read about.
The only tip I can give you other than relaxing is to maintain a healthy weight and not drink much.